Following several shootings linked to high school football games, the executive director of the Mississippi High School Activities Association is urging schools to do away with on-campus tailgating for the time being.
Rickey Neaves said during Monday’s episode of the MHSAA Podcast that the association, which all public and some private schools participate in, consulted its attorney before sending a memo to schools discouraging tailgating events as the season is about halfway through.
“I highly recommend at this time there be no tailgates on school property,” Neaves said. “All these events seem to stem from tailgates, so we recommend from advice from our attorney that we stop having tailgates on campus.”
The MHSAA’s recommendation comes after gunfire erupted in multiple parts of the state in a span of hours on Friday night. On the campus of Heidelberg High School, the bodies of two people, including a pregnant woman, were found. Four people have since been taken into custody.
In Rolling Fork, on the campus of South Delta High School, a man was shot twice. Two people have been taken into custody for their roles in the incident.
In Leland, a post-homecoming game block party downtown saw shots fired and six people killed and at least 10 injured. The FBI announced Monday night that four suspects have been arrested with more arrests pending.
Last month, one person was killed and two injured during a shooting at a Gautier High School alumni homecoming event, according to WLOX-TV.
Neaves clarified that, at this point, there is no rule in place requiring MHSAA schools to do away with tailgating. However, if tailgating events are to be held, they must be supervised by school personnel while student sections inside stadiums must have security.
“Alcohol, drugs, tobacco and firearms are not allowed on school property, so make sure that people coming into these areas don’t bring any of this in with them,” he said.
Some schools have already heeded the advice. Canton High School announced it is canceling tailgating activities at its homecoming game this Friday. Picayune Memorial High School announced it’s canceling tailgating activities for the remainder of the season. The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office stated on social media that “no after-parties or unauthorized gatherings” will be allowed following Friday’s Port Gibson-Fayette game.
